Duquesne Historic Sites & Interpretive Centres

For more than 100 years, southwestern Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, was known for its steel producing capabilities, helping create landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. Today, more than 3,000 sq mi (7,770 sq km) of land has been designated as the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, encompassing numerous historical sites and making way for a series of educational tours. The area spans across seven counties and explains the significance of mill towns, coal seams, steel mills, aluminum and glass production and labor union struggles, all telling the story of the Big Steel era, which lasted from 1875 until 1980.